eReefs GBR1: Biogeochemistry and Sediments Model v3.2 (Retired)

Results from version 3.2 of a 1km-resolution regional-scale biogeochemistry and sediments model for the Great Barrier Reef, forced by a 1km hydrodynamic model. The dataset was retired by its authors in February 2026 due to an error causing unrealistically high Chlorophyll-a levels. The model ran in near-real-time, updating daily, until January 2024 when sensor damage during a monsoon season halted critical river-flow data input.

Use Cases

• Study historical biogeochemical model outputs for the Great Barrier Reef based on the 1km-resolution model mentioned.
• Analyze sediment transport patterns in the Great Barrier Reef based on the regional-scale sediments model described.
• Investigate the impact of river catchment inputs on reef systems based on the Furnas relationships for wet and dry tropics rivers mentioned.
• Examine the consequences of model errors on Chlorophyll-a predictions based on the described scientific unreasonableness for shelf edge areas.

Strengths

• Model outputs are at a 1km spatial resolution, providing regional-scale detail.
• The model configuration follows a specific naming protocol (GBR1_H2p0_B3p2_Cfur_Dnrt), suggesting a structured development process.
• The model was designed to run in near-real-time, updating daily until January 2024.

Limitations

• The dataset was officially retired in February 2026 due to a model error producing abnormally high and unrealistic Chlorophyll-a levels.
• Values are inconsistent with a more recent dataset and are scientifically unreasonable for shelf edge and reef matrix areas where Chla should be ≤0.5 mg m⁻³.
• Critical river-flow forcing data was lost after January 2024 due to monsoon damage, halting the model's near-real-time updates.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network via data_gov_au.

Collection Method

Output from version 3.2 of the eReefs GBR1 biogeochemistry and sediments model, forced by a hydrodynamic model version 2.0.

Time Range

Model ran until January 2024; dataset retired February 2026.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-18 18:28:40.935700; the underlying model data generation stopped in January 2024 and the dataset was retired in February 2026.

Geography

Great Barrier Reef region.